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Gearing 308 VS 342 What?

Willyone

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Mark Diedrich Enthusiast

Mark Diedrich

Posted
Posted

 

Totally agree.

I test drove the 3.08, floored it up to about 70 mph - then I got out of the 3.08 and into an identical truck with the 3.42 and drove it the same way. No difference in acceleration whatsoever. I bought the 3.08 and have no regrets.

 

Us 3.08 guys can brag about how when passing, it gives an increasingly nice pull after 60mph, all the way to 100 if you let it.

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Mark Diedrich Enthusiast

Mark Diedrich

Posted
Posted

Ours pull nice when passing too, all the way to 100 if we let it..lol

But with a trailer hooked up to the same truck we can still pass traffic very easily..... Yours on the other hand suck terribly for both passing or negotiating hills and such with the same trailer hooked to it.....

It's one thing to talk about a vehicle by itself, it is quite another when you add weight to it! Please Stop misleading people until you have done both. Imho

NoProblem Enthusiast

NoProblem

Posted
Posted

I have a snow plow on mine and it pushes and piles without issue. I've towed heavy loads and the only thing I noticed was my fuel gauge drop about 3 times quicker than normal - but I am not looking to race anyone while I have 6000lbs behind me once or twice every two years either.

 

3.08 is in no sense a slouch. No way is there such a vast difference between the two as people like to say. I couldn't be sure till I test drove them back to back, but I found zero difference when I did.

fedmogul89 Enthusiast

fedmogul89

Posted
Posted

I had a 2016 Silverado 1500 LT with the 5.3 and 3.08 gears. Was very good on flat roads. I drove to Ohio from Virginia and struggled horribly on the turnpike and didnt do too amazing in Ohio, itself. I traded it in for a 2016 Sierra 1500 SLE with 3.42 gears. Made the exact trip, and averaged(if memory is correct) 21.9 miles a gallon. The Silverado only averaged about 19.3. Not a HUGE difference, but still. I've noticed my gas mileage is way more consistent with the 3.42 gears. And for what I do tow, i have noticed the truck does not struggle with the gears like the 3.08 did. The 3.42 seems like it has more bottom end "grunt" than the 3.08 does.

powerhaulic Enthusiast

powerhaulic

Posted
Posted

Allways get the highest available (numerical) ratio possible, makes a much better driving truck.

 

I just got a '17 max tow 6.2 that gives it 3.42.....but wish the 3.73 was possible. but 3.73 is only 5.3 max tow

Mark Diedrich Enthusiast

Mark Diedrich

Posted
Posted

I have a snow plow on mine and it pushes and piles without issue. I've towed heavy loads and the only thing I noticed was my fuel gauge drop about 3 times quicker than normal - but I am not looking to race anyone while I have 6000lbs behind me once or twice every two years either.

 

3.08 is in no sense a slouch. No way is there such a vast difference between the two as people like to say. I couldn't be sure till I test drove them back to back, but I found zero difference when I did.

Mark Diedrich Enthusiast

Mark Diedrich

Posted
Posted

Apparently, everyone else who has done real mileage and various terrain both, and pull (more than 2 times a year and not on flat ground) prefer the 3.42 and 3.73 gears over 3.08 and 3.23 hands done.

And we don't even have to floor it, to make it "not a slouch" I can assure you we are not racing it nor do we wish to have to use 3/4 - full throttle to get it to move decent.

Holding gears on hills with out it downshifting all the time is also very important when it comes to towing, something your 3.08 can't do very well unless you are in a lower transmission gear already, at which point your gas mileage just got a lot worse on that 600 mile trip.

By the way, I hope you are not plowing that heavy snow so fast that you are getting up to 6th gear.....;)

Northside Enthusiast

Northside

Posted
Posted

 

It isn't significant, it is about as proportional as the mpg. Case in point, C&D tested a 4x4 Silverado with the 5.3 and 3.42 as well as a Sierra 4x4 5.3 and 3.08 (both loaded crew cabs). Silverado was 4 tenths(0.4) faster and 1 mph quicker through the 1/4 mile but 2 mpg behind in testing. 1 mph on the big end after a 1/4 mile isn't significant and neither is 4 tenths (roughly a truck length or truck length and a half depending on who you ask).

 

I always crack up when people say the 3.08's are a dog, bet you blind fold them and do a full out acceleration they would not be able to tell a difference between the two.

 

Tyler

As far s .4 seconds in a quarter mile goes. If you are both going 90 mph that's about 135 feet per second. The truck with 3.42 would be more like 3 truck lengths.

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted

3.08 are great for those in flat lands, low towing demands and mileage. I've driven one or two, and honestly, they are not all that bad. The 3.08 trucks pull strong beyond 55 for sure. But, if you have hilly lands, higher towing/payload demands, the 3.42 is always worth the box check. Lot less lugging of the engine. But...then you get in an HD truck with the 6.0, and you feel the pull of those 4.10 gears...no looking back LOL.

Mark Diedrich Enthusiast

Mark Diedrich

Posted
Posted

3.08 are great for those in flat lands, low towing demands and mileage. I've driven one or two, and honestly, they are not all that bad. The 3.08 trucks pull strong beyond 55 for sure. But, if you have hilly lands, higher towing/payload demands, the 3.42 is always worth the box check. Lot less lugging of the engine. But...then you get in an HD truck with the 6.0, and you feel the pull of those 4.10 gears...no looking back LOL.

Mark Diedrich Enthusiast

Mark Diedrich

Posted
Posted

Ooh yes 4.10's!!!

Had them on a 99' 1/2 ton pulled the trailer great, but the daily gas mileage on that one was alot worse than the 3.73.... But i liked how it held the gears better:)

Imcrazy Senior Enthusiast

Imcrazy

Posted
Posted

Big difference if you haul or tow, if not it's probably not a big deal but. I'm talking 6 speed trans of course. Its about 3k of extra towing capacity which is a big deal to me.

Txjose Senior Enthusiast

Txjose

Posted
Posted

3.42 has significant increase in acceleration with seemingly the same mpg. I've paid close attention to everybody's mpg posts, and I see no difference in the 3.42 compared to other ratio's.

 

I was surprised how much of a benefit it was, if I was ordering a new truck it would absolutely have 3.42

Having had both in similarly equipped trucks this is what i gather as well.

 

3.08s on 33s felt like a turd but had amazing top end once the engine mods went in.

 

Current truck with 3.42s feels much lighter off the line, have yet to see how large aftermarket tires will affect it but i will find out soon enough.

 

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Mark Diedrich Enthusiast

Mark Diedrich

Posted
Posted

Having had both in similarly equipped trucks this is what i gather as well.

 

3.08s on 33s felt like a turd but had amazing top end once the engine mods went in.

 

Current truck with 3.42s feels much lighter off the line, have yet to see how large aftermarket tires will affect it but i will find out soon enough.

 

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Mark Diedrich Enthusiast

Mark Diedrich

Posted
Posted

I'm sure larger tires will hurt it some, but it may still be fine depending on the size.

There comes a point though when the tires and lift get big enough that it will be a turd, which is why people regear.

It's also why they automatically bump up the axle and ratio on the max tow package, because they know it works better for the use of the truck...

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